Anti - proliferative and anti - inflammatory activity of triterpene extracts from plant species belonging to Lamiaceae family / Actividad antiproliferativa y antinflamatoria de los extractos de triterpenos de plantas pertenecientes a la familia Lamiaceae

Triterpenes are very important secondary metabolites with wide structural diversity and significant role in pharmacy and medicine. In the present research, a comparative study of pharamacological activities of the triterpene fractions obtained from several plant species belonging to Lamiaceae family, was carried out. In - vitro anti - proliferative activity was performed using a standard proliferation assay based on tetrazolium salts. In vitro anti - inflammatory activity of triterpene fractions was determined by an assay of inhibition of albumin denaturation. In general, the triterpene fractions obtained from plant species belonging to Lam iaceae family showed a strong anti - proliferative activity and anti - inflammatory activity. The triterpene fraction of Rosmarini folium showed the strongest anti - proliferative activity (GI 50 range from 4 to 37 µg/ml) and the strongest anti - inflammatory activ ity in the range from 57.27% to 80.69%. This comparative study provides scientific evidence to support the traditional use of Lamiacae plant species for medical purposes as anti - inflammatory and anti - proliferative medicines.

Los triterpenos son metabolitos secundarios muy importantes, con una amplia diversidad estructural y un rol significativo en la farmacia y la medicina. En esta investiga ción, se realizó un estudio comparativo de las actividades farmacológicas de las fracciones de triterpenos obtenidas de varias especies de plantas pertenecientes a la familia Lamiaceae. La actividad antiproliferativa in vitro se realizó mediante un ensayo estándar de proliferación basado en sales de tetrazolio. Se determinó la actividad antinflamatoria de las fracciones de triterpeno s mediante un ensayo de inhibición de desnaturalización de la albúmina. En general, las fracciones de triterpeno s obtenidas de las plantas pertenecientes a la familia Lamiaceae mostraron una actividad antiproliferativa y antinflamatoria fuerte. La fracción de triterpeno de Folium Rosmarini mostró la actividad antiproliferativa más fuerte (rango GI 50 entre 4 y 37 µg/m L ) y la más f uerte actividad antinflamatoria en el rango de 57,27% a 80,69%. Este estudio comparativo provée evidencia científica para apoyar el uso tradicional de especies de plantas Lamiaceae para usos médicos como medicinas antinflamatorios y antiproliferativas.

Application of direct peptide reactivity assay for assessing the skin sensitization potential of essential oils.

Plant-derived products are frequently found as ingredients in cosmetics. However, the current data show non-neglectable skin sensitizing potential of these preparations suggesting an urgent need for data regarding their health safety profile. The aim of this study was to assess the skin sensitization potential of commercial essential oils by selected Lamiaceae species (Lavandula angustifolia, Melissa officinalis, Mentha longifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, and Rosmarinus officinalis) using a chemistry-based Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) in order to predict their potential allergic properties. In the DPRA assay, nucleophile-containing synthetic peptides (cysteine peptide and lysine peptide) were incubated with the test substance for 24 h. Depletion of the peptide in the reaction mixture was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using UV detection and the average peptide depletion data for cysteine and lysine was then calculated. Menthae longifoliae aetheroleum showed no or minimal reactivity with 4.48% cysteine depletion, Rosmarini aetheroleum and Salviae aetheroleum showed low reactivity with the 12.79% and 15.34% of cysteine depletion, respectively, while the other analyzed essential oils showed moderate reactivity with the cysteine depletion between 23.21 and 48.43%. According to DPRA predictive analysis, only Menthae longifoliae aetheroleum can be classified as negative, while all other essential oils may be classified as positive, thus having the potential to cause skin sensitization.

Cytotoxicity screening of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil in brine shrimp nauplii and cancer cell lines.

Among natural products, essential oils from aromatic plants have been reported to possess potent anticancer properties. In this work, we aimed to perform the cytotoxic concentration range screening and antiproliferative activity screening of chemically characterized Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil. In vivo bioassay was conducted using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT). In vitro evaluation of antiproliferative activity was carried out on three human tumor cell lines: breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7, lung carcinoma H460 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 using MTT assay. Essential oil components thymol (36.7%), p-cymene (30.0%), γ-terpinene (9.0%) and carvacrol (3.6%) were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analyzed essential oil should be considered as toxic/highly toxic with LC50 60.38 µg/mL in BSLT and moderate/weakly cytotoxic with IC50 range 52.65-228.78 µg/mL in vitro, according to evaluated cytotoxic criteria. Essential oil induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in all tested tumor cell lines and showed different sensitivity. Dose dependent toxicity observed in bioassay as well as the in vitro assay confirmed that brine shrimp lethality test is an adequate method for preliminary toxicity testing of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil in tumor cell lines.

In vitro Antiproliferative activity of Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) leaves essential oil / Actividad antiproliferativa in vitro de aceite esencial de hojas de Melissa officinalis L (Lamiaceae)

In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of essential oil from leaves of Melissa officinalis L. grown in Southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. In vitro evaluation of antiproliferative activity of the M. officinalis essential oil was carried out on three human tumor cell lines: MCF-7, NCI-H460 and MOLT-4 by MTT assay. M. officinalis essential oil was characterized by high percentage of monoterpenes (77,5%), followed by the sesquiterpene fraction (14,5%) and aliphatic compounds (2,2%). The main constituents of the essential oil of M. officinalis are citral (47,2%), caryophyllene oxide (10,2%), citronellal (5,4%), geraniol (6,6%), geranyl acetate (4,1%) and ß- caryophyllene (3,8%). The essential oil showed significant antiproliferative activity against three cancer cell lines, MOLT-4, MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cells, with GI50 values of <5, 6±2 and 31±17 µg/mL, respectively. The results revealed that M. officinalis L. essential oil has a potential as anticancer therapeutic agent.

En el presente estudio, investigamos la actividad antiproliferativa del aceite esencial de las hojas de Melissa officinalis L. cultivadas en el sur de Bosnia y Herzegovina. La evaluación in vitro de la actividad antiproliferativa del aceite esencial de M. officinalis se llevó a cabo en tres líneas celulares de tumores humanos: MCF-7, NCI-H460 y MOLT-4 utilizando el ensayo de MTT. El aceite esencial de M. officinalis se caracterizó por un alto porcentaje de monoterpenos (77,5%), seguido de la fracción sesquiterpénica (14,5%) y compuestos alifáticos (2,2%). Los principales constituyentes del aceite esencial de M. officinalis fueron citral (47,2%), óxido de cariofileno (10,2%), citronelal (5,4%), geraniol (6,6%), acetato de geranilo (4, 1%), y ß-cariofileno (3,8%). El aceite esencial mostró una actividad antiproliferativa significativa contra las líneas celulares de cáncer MOLT-4, MCF-7 y NCI-H460, con valores GI50 de <5, 6±2 y 31±17 µg/mL, respectivamente. Los resultados revelaron que el aceite esencial de M. officinalis L. tiene potencial como agente terapéutico contra el cáncer.

Neuroenhancing Substances Use, Exam Anxiety and Academic Performance in Bosnian-Herzegovinian First-Year University Students.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of neuroenhancing substances, exam anxiety and academic performance among first-year Bosnian-Herzegovinian (BH) university students. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, an ad hoc questionnaire was delivered to a sample of BH first-year university students. The following data were collected: socio-demographic features, consumption of neuroenchancing substances, the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS) and academic performance. RESULTS: A total of 214 students were included. Consumption of lifestyle substances, coffee, energy drinks, nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana, for the purpose of neuroenhancement increased during the week before the exams. OTC cognitive enhancer use was reported by 31.0%, and of benzodiazepines by 1.5% of students. No psycostimulants were used. A high to extremely high exam WTAS score was reported in 38.3% students. The exam WTAS score was positively correlated with consumption of coffee (rho=0.31; P<0.001), energy drinks (rho=0.18; P=0.009), and nicotine (rho=0.22; P=0.001), and negatively correlated with last exam grade (rho=-0.33; P<0.001). The exam WTAS score was a significant independent predictor (OR=0.55; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.97, P=0.039) for self-assessed academic performance. Self-assessed academic performance was positively correlated with last exam grade (rho=0.15; P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Although first-year BH university students do not seem to use either prescription or illicit psycostimulants, the consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana is worrying. However, the consumption of these neuroenhancing substances seems not to be related to better self-assessed academic performance. Finally, exam anxiety seems to be a significant problem among BH first-year university students.

Cancer mortality, recent trends and perspectives.

Considering that a register for cancer was established in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina only recently, basic reliable source for the analysis of cancer mortality trends are the data on death cases caused by such diseases. Lack of census as well as standardized mortality rate data makes the study even more difficult to make. The aim of the study is the analysis of the malign diseases trend in the post-war period according to the available data. The study is the descriptive work on the analysis of the system using linear regression methods for expected trend for the total population and age group from 0 to 64 years. Registered rate of cancer mortality in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004 was 142 per 100000 inhabitants, and indicates input stream in the analyzed period. Total increase in mortality of males and females is 2.5% per year. It is expected that in 2020 around 5000 inhabitants of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will die of some malign disease. Trend of mortality of malign diseases in males is higher than in females and more probable in older population. There is a tendency of mortality decrease in the group of 0-64 years of age. Mortality list of the most frequent locations of cancer has undergone changes. Liver cancer, colon cancer, sigma and rectum cancer as well as lung and breast cancer lead the list. Objective ageing of the population, technological drawbacks, insufficient primary and secondary prevention worsened by socio-economic life conditions will affect the increase in number of people with malign diseases in Bosnia and Herzegovina.